Carton sealing apparatus for field crop packing machine



March 10, 1959 H. H. SHAW ET AL CARTON SEALING APPARATUS FOR FIELD CROP PACKING MACHINE Filed June 25. 1954 -wlllln I "llh.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MART/N HUGH ATTORNEYS March 10, 19.59 H. H. SHAW ET AL I 7 CARTON, SEALING APPARATUS FOR FIELD CROP PACKING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June. 25, 1 95 4 N mm w TE 5 W. mwmw M n WWW MHH United States Patent CARTON SEALING APPARATUS FOR FIELD CROP PACKING MACHINE Hugh H. Shaw, Martin Sanderson, and Harold Bradshaw, Salinas, Calif assignors to Cochran Motors, Salinas, 'Calif., a corporation of California Application June 25, 1954, Serial No. 439,316

5 Claims. (Cl. 53-374) This invention relates to package handling apparatus, and more particularly to carton sealing apparatus adapted to be embodied in a field crop packing machine for the purpose of closing and sealing cartons which have been hand-filled with field produce, such as lettuce.

In the harvesting of field crops, such as lettuce, the crop is hand picked and then hand loaded into cartons for shipment. After the cartons have been filled to their carrying capacity with the heads of lettuce, it is frequently rather difficult to effect a proper folding down of the top of the carton and a sealing of the carton by hand while preserving the rectangular shape of the container. In the packaging or boxing of vegetables for interstate shipment it is highly essential that the rectangular shape of the container be preserved in order that tariff and shipment requirements may be met.

It is therefore the essential object of the invention to l i provide carton closing apparatus which enables the rapid and eflicient closing of a vegetable-filled box or container and at the same time to preserve the right angled relationship of the walls thereof while the container flaps are being urged to a closed position and secured in the closed position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings forming part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the subject carton clos- Figure 6 is a view taken along lines 6--6 of Figure 2 illustrating the hydraulic actuator system for the apparatus; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view which shows in dotted outline the initial position of the platform and carton closure elements of the apparatus and in solid outline the final or effective positions of the said elements.

The carton closing apparatus, which is adapted to be mounted on and used in conjunction with a field crop packing machine described in a co-pending application, Serial Number 460,160, filed October 4, 1954, now abandoned, comprises four vertically disposed angle iron posts 10, metal plates 12, 14, 16 and 18 secured to and mutually interconnecting said posts, a plate 20 (Figure 6) extending between and secured to plates 12 and 16, an arm 22 fixedly secured to plate 20, an hydraulic cylinder 24 having its lower end pivotally connected to arm 22, as indicated at 26 (Figure 7), a piston rod 28 slidably disposed with respect to cylinder 24 and connected to a -.piston, .not shown, disposed within said cylinder, a platform 30 carried by the upper end of said piston rod 28, and means disposing said platform 30 for guided vertical movement with respect to post 10 comprising arms 32 carried by said platform and rollers 34 rotatably carried by arms 32 and adapted to rollingly engage posts 10, as best shown in Figure 4.

In its lowermost position, as shown in Figure 2 and in dotted outline in Figure 7, the platform 30 forms a span between two fixed sections of a roller conveyor unit, not shown, forming a part of the above mentioned field crop packing machine. Containers filled with, for example, lettuce are moved over one of these conveyor sections onto the platform 30, and after the closing of the container has been effected in the manner and by the means hereinafter described the container is moved off of the platform onto the other conveyor section for further handling. The platform 30 is provided with roller type support means for the containers in the form of ball rollers 36 rotatably disposed within housing seats 38 secured to the platform. The platform is also provided with adjustable guide bars 40 having outwardly flared ends 42 adapted to guide the containers to a position on the platform where they are between and in engagement with bars 40. In order to accommodate containers of varied size, the guide bars are adjustably disposed on the platform, being supported by brackets 44 having foot portions 46 provided with slots 48 through which there extends set bolts 50. Posts 10 are also provided with outwardly flared guide wings 52 which are adapted to direct the containers to a position where they are introduced onto the platform between the outwardly flared portions 42 of bars 40.

The closing of the container is effected, in a manner and by means hereinafter specifically described, by a raising of the platform 30 from the dotted line position of Figure 7 to the solid line position. Upward movement of the platform 30 is caused by actuation of the hydraulic power and foot control system shown in Figure 6 and comprising: a motor 54 mounted on platform 56 which is secured to plates 12, 18 and 20, a pump 58 mounted on plate 20 and adapted to be actuated by motor 54, a sump 60 mounted on plates 16 and 18, a three-way valve 62 mounted on plate 16 a conduit 64 interconnecting sump 60 with the input side of pump 58, a conduit 66 interconnecting the output side of pump 58 with valve 62, a conduit 68 interconnecting valve 62 with hydraulic cylinder 24, a conduit 70 interconnecting valve 62 and sump 60, and a three-way positionable foot pedal 72 disposed in control relation with valve 62.

When pedal 72 is disposed in the neutral position and motor 54 is operating, fluid is drawn by pump 58 from sump 60 through conduit 64 and passed through conduit 66, valve 62 and conduit 70 back to the sump. When the foot pedal is moved to the first of the two remaining predetermined positions of operation, such movement effects a connection of conduits 66 and 68 through valve 62, and platform 30 is thereby raised. When the foot pedal is thereafter moved to its third position, conduits 68 and 70 are interconnected through valve 62 to allow the fluid within cylinder 24 to return to sump 60, thus allowing platform 30 to return to its lowermost position.

The apparatus embodies adjustable means to initially pivot the top flaps 74 of a container 76 inwardly toward each other as the container is raised by the platform in the manner described, with said means also serving to effectively prevent the bulging outwardly of the long sides of the container as a final closing pressure is applied to the container top in the manner hereinafter described. Said means comprise a pair of oppositely disposed elongated members indicated generally at 78 and having vertically disposed portions 80 adapted to restrain any tendency of the container sides to bulge outwardly during the top closing operation and outwardly "and downwardly extending portions 82 adapted to impart the initial closing pivotal action to the container flaps 74. The members '78 are adjustably mounted for movement toward and away from each other so that they may be set to accommodate containersof varied size, said members being secured to carrier arms 84 which are slidably mounted in sleeves 36 and extend therethrough and through square shaped hollow bars 88 which serve as a reinforcement connecting means between posts and also as the carrier means for sleeves 86. Set screws 90 extend through bars 88 into engagement with the carrier bars 84 of member 78.

As the container '76 is moved upwardly by the platform past the container side holding portions 80 of members 78, pressure plates 92 are forcefully pivoted from their dotted line position, as shown in Figure 7, to their solid line position to thereby forcefully move the container flaps 74 to a fully closed position. The flaps 74 are then secured in their closed position, as by staples, glue, or the like. The pressure plates 92 are so arranged with respect to members 78 that they accompany said members when the latter are moved toward or away from each other for purposes of container accommodation adjustment, said plates 92 being carried by crank arm shaped brackets 94 which are pivotally connected, as by pins 96, to cars 98 secured to the rearward side of portions 80 of members 78.

The brackets 94 are pivotally connected, as by pins 100 to lever arms 102 which in turn are secured to carrier bar-s 104. The bars 104 are rigidly connected, as by welding, to lever arms 106 which in turn are pivotally connected, as by pins 108, to elements 110 adjustably secured to rods 112. Platform 30 is provided with integral arms 114, the outer ends of which are disposed in sleeved relation to rods 112. The rods 112 are provided with set collars 116, and springs 118 are sleeved ,on the rods 112 and interposed between the platform arms 114 and collars 116.

It will be appreciated that as the platform 30 is raised in the manner previously described the arm portions 114 thereof move the springs 118 into engagement with the set collars 116 and that the springs 118 are thereafter compressed by further upward movement of the platform to effect a yielding upward movement of rods 112.' Such upward movement of the rods is further effective, through the crank arm connection between the rods and the brackets 94 constituted by elements 100110 to move brackets 94 about their pivot points 96 to thereby pivotally move pressure plates 92 from the dotted outline position to solid line position of Figure 7. After container panels 74 have been permanently secured in place, the

foot pedal 72 is actuated to interconnect the cylinder 24 with sump 60 through conduit 68, valve 62 .and con- ;duit 70 ,to allow the gravitational return of the platform to;its lowermost position. The disposition of weight of the components, of the pressure plate actuating system is such as to cause the brackets 94 to gravitationally return to the dotted line position of Figure'7 as the platform returns to its lowermost position.

The carrier bars 104 are providedwith guide means which prevent horizontal movement of said bars during the raising and lowering of rods 112 but which permit of a rocking movement of said bars, said means comprising rollers 120 carried at the outer ends of bars 104 and disposed for rolling movement between and in engagesubstantial equivalents thereof are considered'to be within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. .Carton closingapparatus of the type described comprising a platform, support means therefor including 4 1 power means for raising and lowering said platform, a pair of oppositely disposed horizontally extending members mounted for selectively adjustable movement toward and away from each other, support means for said members disposing said members above said platform, said members having upwardly and inwardly inclined lower portions adapted to initially move the top flaps of a carton on said platform downwardly and toward each other as said platform is raised, said members having vertically disposed planar upper portions adapted to embrace portions of oppositely disposed walls of a carton as the latter is moved upwardly by said platform, a pair of oppositely disposed presser plates disposed above said members and having a pivotal connection therewith, and means interconnecting said platform and said presser plates adapted upon upward movement of said platform to rock said plates downwardly and toward each other into pressing relation with the top flaps of a platformborne carton.

2. Carton closing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said platform having a pair of oppositely disposed and horizontally extending carton guide bars extending parallel to said members and mounted on said platform for selectively adjustable movement toward and away from each other, said guide bars having outwardly flared carton receiving end portions, and anti-friction roller elements forming a discontinuous carton receiving and supporting surface on said platform.

3. Carton closing apparatus of the type described comprising a supporting base including vertically disposed corner posts, a horizontally disposed platform, a vertically disposed hydraulic cylinder assembly having its'lower end connected to and supported by said base and having an extensible upper end connected to and in supporting relation with said platform, roller means carried by said platform in contactual relation with said posts whereby the horizontal attitude of said platform will be maintained as the extensible upper end of said cylinder assembly is raised and lowered, adjustable guide means carried by said ward and away from each other, said members being adapted to contactually embrace the side walls of a carton as the same is moved upwardly by said platform, a pair of oppositely disposed carton lid closing presser plates carried by said members, carrier means pivotally connecting said plates to said members for rocking movement of said plates toward each other and downwardly and away from each other and upwardly, and means forming a yieldable connection between said carrier means and said platform whereby upward movement of said platform causes said plates to be moved toward each other and downwardly and subsequent downward movement of. said platform enables said plates to move away from each other and upwardly.

4. Carton closing apparatus of the type describedcomprising a platform, support means therefor including power meansfor raisingand lowering said platform, a pair of oppositely disposed horizontally extending members mounted for selectively adjustable movementtoward and away from each other, support means for said members disposing said members above said platform, said members having vertically disposed planar upper vportions adapted to embrace portions of oppositely disposedwalls of a carton as the latter ismoved upwardly by said plat- .form a pair of oppositely disposed presser plates disposed above said members and having a pivotal connection -;therewith, and means interconnecting said platform sand -.e.ach.other into pressing relation with the top-flaps of a platform-b orne carton.

,5. Carton-closing apparatusof the type described comprising a horizontally disposed platform, support and guide means therefor including means to raise and lower said platform, a pair of oppositely disposed carton guide bars adjustably mounted on said platform for movement toward and away from each other for the central posi- 5 tioning of a carton on said platform, a pair of oppositely disposed presser plates and means pivotally mounting the same above said platform for movement downwardly and toward each other and upwardly and away from each other, said presser plate mounting means comprising a 10 pair of oppositely disposed carton wall engaging members and means mounting the same for adjustment toward and away from each other, said presser plates being connected to said wall engaging members for adjustable movement therewith, and means forming a yieldable and pivotal connection between said platform and plates adapted to translate vertical movement of said platform into conjoint pivotal movement of said plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,409,474 Shafer Mar. 14, 1922 1,974,165 Stage Sept. 18, 1934 2,068,242 Maxwell Jan. 19, 1937 2,166,946 Eberling July 25, 1939 2,282,278 Wysong May 5, 1942 2,447,355 Walton July 26, 1949 2,584,529 Allen Feb. 5, 1952 2,608,038 Knowlton et a1 Aug. 26, 1952 15 2,714,792 Wright et al. Aug. 8, 1955 

